Closure of an Asylum: The Friern Study of Older People

✍ Scribed by SUKHWINDER SHERGILL; BERNICE STONE; GILL LIVINGSTON

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 107 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<119::aid-gps421>3.0.co;2-u

✦ Synopsis

This article reports a naturalistic study following the closure of Friern Hospital and the movement of elderly longstay patients, who in the main suered from severe dementia, to psychiatric nursing homes and hospital beds. It describes changes in the environments and in the patients' cognition, behaviour and use of medical services. The results suggest that psychiatric nursing homes seem able to care for the majority if patients with severe dementia. Future studies should consider whether long-stay hospital beds may, however, be necessary for those with both psychiatric and physical health needs, where increased contact with health service personnel is essential. Prospective examination of the reasons for breakdown of placements in nursing homes and the dierences between those placed in various settings may help future planning of services. Relatives' opinions of the long-stay settings also require study.